"So, what inspired you to write the book?" This is a question I've been getting a lot since Black Cats and Ballet Slippers was released a month ago.
I don't mind this question at all. It's a great question! I mean, just thinking about the word…INSPIRATION!!!…makes me feel pretty inspired. So, here's all the stuff that made me want to write the book:
First of all, I'm a cat person. And a dog person, too. Okay, let's just say I'm an animal person overall. (I keep telling my husband I am going to open up a shelter for crazy rescue animals in our home and that he is going to love it!) So, that's where the black cats part comes in. You gotta love the cats.
Now, for the dance part. I've been dancing since I was a kid. First it was ballet, with the tutus and recitals and pink slippers. Then I moved on to modern dance in college. Now, it's anything, really…hip hop, Zumba, Afro-Brazilian, Nia, DJ Dance Cardio. I love it all! As long as I get to dance a few times a week, I am a happy camper.
I don't mind this question at all. It's a great question! I mean, just thinking about the word…INSPIRATION!!!…makes me feel pretty inspired. So, here's all the stuff that made me want to write the book:
First of all, I'm a cat person. And a dog person, too. Okay, let's just say I'm an animal person overall. (I keep telling my husband I am going to open up a shelter for crazy rescue animals in our home and that he is going to love it!) So, that's where the black cats part comes in. You gotta love the cats.
Now, for the dance part. I've been dancing since I was a kid. First it was ballet, with the tutus and recitals and pink slippers. Then I moved on to modern dance in college. Now, it's anything, really…hip hop, Zumba, Afro-Brazilian, Nia, DJ Dance Cardio. I love it all! As long as I get to dance a few times a week, I am a happy camper.
The idea for the story really came about when I was teaching middle school many years ago. The book's main character, Gemma Mayfield, thinks her teacher is a witch and wants to prove it. Her teacher, Ms. Pruett, has a bunch of weird witchy ingredients in her prep room and casts spells on kids.
Well…I had a prep room once with a lot of old wacky stuff in it, too. Over the years, teachers who had been in the room before me had added to the collection of jars, flasks, old lab supplies, unidentifiable objects, you name it. No one ever cleaned it out, so it just kept accumulating. Then I came along. Of course, I didn't clean it out, either, and just added my own junk to it. I didn't have any organizational motivation whatsoever. However, what I DID have was imagination! Ta da! All of the boring, dusty layers of junk turned into "witchy" ingredients before my eyes. Add this to the cats and the dance, and Black Cats and Ballet Slippers was born!
I'd also like to add that I like ice cream, sunsets, castles, and the color green. And cheesy popcorn. Those are a few of my favorite things and excellent sources of everyday inspiration!
Well…I had a prep room once with a lot of old wacky stuff in it, too. Over the years, teachers who had been in the room before me had added to the collection of jars, flasks, old lab supplies, unidentifiable objects, you name it. No one ever cleaned it out, so it just kept accumulating. Then I came along. Of course, I didn't clean it out, either, and just added my own junk to it. I didn't have any organizational motivation whatsoever. However, what I DID have was imagination! Ta da! All of the boring, dusty layers of junk turned into "witchy" ingredients before my eyes. Add this to the cats and the dance, and Black Cats and Ballet Slippers was born!
I'd also like to add that I like ice cream, sunsets, castles, and the color green. And cheesy popcorn. Those are a few of my favorite things and excellent sources of everyday inspiration!
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